Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1887-08-31
COMMON ENEMIES.

Workingmen are not the only ones
who are earnestly asking what can tie
done to improve the condition of the
men and women who work long days
for just enough to sustain life. A
majority of their employers are SID
cerely interested in the well being of
their employees, and would gladly
help them in any way possible. But
the Obstacles are enough to discourage
all but the most sanguine, courageous
and persistent. The benevolent EN-.
ployer il between two fires, On the
one hand he must meet the coMpeti.
tion of the employer who is not benev-
client and has no scruples about taking
any advantage OF the working men
that will turn an extra dime into his
till. IL is one of the unpleasant facts
about competition that one disreput.
able competitor can nullifylt the efforts
Of ninety-nine high-minded ones to
maintain their business on an homer
able basis. His price makes the
market price, and the ninety.nine
must meet 1t. On the other hand the
benevolent employer must contend
against the prejudices and false no.
tions created in the minds of his EN-.
ployees by the professional mischief
maker. whose sole occupation is pur.
suading hard working men that lie
can do them good turn by making
things hot for the employer, for which
valuable service they may hand oyer
their contributions. The labors of
these mouth workers in the last few
years have produced most lamentable
rsstlIs. They have created a feeling
amsns working men That employers
as class regard wage workers as
merely instruments for creating wealth.
They have spread tile pernicious de-
fusion that employers as . class are
gr owing enormously rich by The III!
requited labor of their employees,
Now the plain truth of the matter is
that the great body of employers and
the great body of employees have a
common enemy 10 the conscienceless
employer ami the couscienceiess agita
tor. II is q competition that does not
stop at Justice or honor, and a heart
Tess Misrepresentation of facts. that
are- destroying profits and wages
together. Employers and employees
who are working. with good inten
tlons, according to- their light, should
get together, give each other their
confidence, and make a united resis-
lance to the influences that are iujur.
Ing them. Whether such confidence
shall exist, in spite of all the influen-
ces tending to destroy it, depends on
ths employers good judgment quite
as much as on bis good Intentions.
Employees estimate an employer by
hfs ac's, not by h. words, aud are
more impressed by qualities Of bust.
ness sense AMI strong leadership than
by an easy. going kindness. Extended
observation has confirmed the opinion
thai those employers are most respect
ed by their work,nea who. with few
professions of benevo,ence, do in fact
pay the best wages their business can
afford, who make bargains with their
employees and frame shop regulations
after a frank and tree discussion of ali,
points, in winch the employees are
encouraged to appear individually or
by committee, as they themselves pre-
fer, and who maintain a discipline that
y at once strict and fair. In the last
two words lies most of the secret of
harmonious relations between employ
er and employed The man who is
both strict and fair Is the successful
man In all the relations.-W Work and
Wages for Apgast